21 Types of Helicopters Explained (A Full Guide)

Helicopters are a type of aircraft people find especially captivating, attracting the attention of everyone from bright-eyed toddlers to hard-bitten war veterans.

Helicopters are effective, adaptable, and enable free-spirited flight to accomplish whatever needs to be done when it needs to be done—from firefighting to search and rescue to military engagements. But all helicopters aren’t the same.

In fact, there are six types of helicopters that each have their own rotor designs and configuration to fit different missions.

So if you’re a helicopter buff or just curious about helicopters, come along as we explore the seven types of helicopters and learn what separates them from the rest.

What is a helicopter?

A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied horizontally by spinning rotors. Regarding lift, helicopter use allows for vertical take-off and landing, hovering, and forward, backward, and lateral flight.

This versatility enables helicopters to go to more constrained or isolated spaces where fixed-wing aircraft or many types of VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft are unable to operate.

In 1942, the Sikorsky R-4 wasn’t just the first helicopter ever made to go into full-scale production, it was also the first production true helicopter.

The majority of earlier designs included additional main rotors, but the design of a single main rotor (monocopter) and vertical anti-torque tail rotor has proved to be the more accepted helicopter script.

Twin-main rotor helicopters (bicopters) are also at use in either tandem or transverse rotors because of their higher payload increase as compared to the monocopter. Coaxial-rotor helicopters, tiltrotor aircraft, and compound helicopters all flying today.

Quadrotor helicopters (quadcopters) were pioneered in 1907, in France, and other forms of multi-copters were built for more specialized areas of application as, such in drones.

Who invented Helicopter?

Paul Cornu, a French bicycle maker, invented the helicopter in 1907. His invention was the first helicopter as we know it today, it lifted off the ground about 1 foot, for about 20 seconds.

Another French inventor, Etienne Oehmichen, is known for making the first helicopter flight carrying two passengers. He made the flight soon after winning a prize of 90 000 for flying his helicopter, flying a triangular circuit of 1 kilometers.

On September 14, 1939, the VS-300, the world’s first practical helicopter, took flight in Stratford, Connecticut. The helicopter was designed by Igor Sikorsky, and built by the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation. The VS-300 was the first helicopter to develop a single main rotor and tail rotor design, like we use today.

The Vs-300 was piloted by Sikorsky and had its first tethered flight on September 14, 1939, it only lasted a few seconds. The first free flight was on May 13, 1940. The innovative helicopter’s rotor was 28 feet in diameter with 3 blades that allowed for a variable pitch of the blades, with a blade speed of 250 300 mph.

The engineering concepts demonstrated in the VS-300 provided the technology for first production helicopters, and the standard for manufacturing helicopters all over the world.

On June 27, 1931, Sikorsky submitted the patent application (no. 1,994,488) for a direct lift aircraft that included all of the main engineering features of the VS-300.

The patent was issued on March 19, 1935. On October 7, 1943, the VS-300 was presented to Henry Ford, included in his Edison Museum, in Dearborn, Michigan, and it has since been on display at the Henry Ford Museum.

Types of Helicopters

The most common types of helicopters and their applications:

#1. Single Rotor Helicopter.

Single rotor helicopters are the most common type of helicopter currently in use. They have one main rotor located directly above the cockpit for vertical lift and, by tilting, provide forward motion.

The main rotor can have anywhere from 2 blades (as per above) to 7 blades, as in the case of the Sikorsky Sea Stallion. There is also a smaller tail rotor to control direction and provide stability.

Usually, those little rotors use blades too, but new technologies (such as the anti-torque system on MD Helicopters’ MD520N) provide some variance for the tail rotor.

Single rotor helicopters are very dependable, reactive, and can easily hover in place. They have lots of uses such as aerial firefighting, search and rescue, and helicopter tours.

#2. Tandem Rotor Helicopter.

A tandem rotor helicopter has two large horizontal rotor assemblies, positioned one behind the other, with sufficient height difference in positioning to prevent collision.

A single rotor helicopter requires a tail rotor to cancel the torque caused by the main rotor. This is not the case for tandem rotor helicopters, which use counter-rotating rotor assemblies.

To steer a tandem helicopter, you can alter the different collective pitch of the two different rotors to control movement forwards, backwards, or side to side.

Tandem rotor helicopters have a number of significant advantages; primarily, they create a design that is capable of optimizing lift capacity to magnificently capable levels, making them ideal for heavy lift jobs.

In fact, these helicopters have a great reputation for their strong lifting capabilities, making them perfect helicopters for carrying troops and heavy lift. They can also be used for firefighting, logging and similar roles in which their heavy lift is required.

#3. Coaxial Helicopter.

In a coaxial helicopter, the blades are stacked one over another, spinning in opposite directions. This design eliminates the tendency for helicopter blades to create a turning force that can be difficult to control.

As a result, coaxial helicopters have some distinct advantages; greater maximum payload, more precise control of movement, and greater altitude when compared to conventional helicopters.

Also coaxial helicopters do not need to devote power to a tail rotor and can apply that energy to lift and mobility.

So, how do coaxial helicopters work? The two stacked rotor blades generate lift and allow the helicopter to fly vertically. Controlling forward, backward and lateral movement is accomplished through adjusting the speed of the rotor blades and the angles each blade is set.

Another advantage, coaxial helicopters do not require a tail rotor and therefore do not risk hitting the tail rotor while flying at low altitude or landing in a confined area.

Coaxial helicopters have been used for a variety of applications. Some people even use them for personal transport because of their stability and great drivability. They have been used in the military for surveillance, troop transport, and in combat conditions.

The Kamov Ka-50 “Black Shark”, is a well-known military example of a coaxial helicopter that is known to be more agile in combat.

#4. Compound Helicopter.

The compound helicopter contains the best functionality of airplanes and helicopters. They have a rotary lift and a rotor to maintain stability; that is approximately where the similar attributes COVID-19 and conventional helicopters end.

The conventional helicopter differs from a compound helicopter in that it has an additional method of propulsion. Most compound helicopters employ either a propeller on the tail of the helicopter or a jet engine to obtain additional airspeed.

Also, many helicopters have a small set of wings that help sustain forward flight. The design of compound helicopters supports flying farther and faster than conventional helicopters, allowing it to be used for long-range transport, as well as military applications.

#5. Tilt Rotor Helicopters.

Consider a tilt rotor aircraft like a helicopter and an airplane combined into one aircraft, it can take off and land like a helicopter and then alter its flight to fly like an airplane, which can go faster and farther.

The way tilt rotor aircraft are able to do this is by altering their rotors. The beginning of the flight they are in an upright position to lift the aircraft off the ground into the air. When the aircraft is in the air and at the right height, the rotors eventually tilt forward similar to how an airplane’s propeller is pointed forward so that the aircraft can zip through the sky.

The capabilities of tilt rotor aircraft is incredible because they are versatile, they can fly as fast and as far as an airplane, but they do not have to have a runway to take off or land. This has many potential uses like cities with restricted areas of space to fly in and to land, or on ships at sea when there is no place to land.

The military uses tilt rotor aircraft for the fast movement of troops and their equipment over long distances. Their speed, flight performance, and agility is a benefit for search and rescue. The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is a tilt rotor aircraft that the military uses for the versatility in which it can perform a number of careers, and is an excellent military asset.

They are used for things like executive transport, offshore oil and gas support, and one day for commercial air travel. The unique and special capabilities of tilt rotor aircraft create aviation possibilities that other helicopters do not have.

#6. Intermeshing Rotor Helicopter.

Intermeshing rotor helicopters (also called synchropters) have two primary rotors that revolve in opposite directions and overlap one another. Each of these rotors is mounted on the mast at a slight angle so the blades can intermesh without colliding.

Because of this rotor arrangement, no rotor creates perfect vertical lift, resulting in reduced efficiency for the entire aircraft. However, the intermeshing rotor helicopter’s flexibility in operating in extraordinarily tight spaces more than offsets that inefficiency.

Intermeshing rotor helicopters are commonly used in military applications, search and rescue operations, and in marginal locations for transporting people and supplies.

#7. Electric Helicopters.

Electric helicopters are a type of rotorcraft that rely on electric motors for flight, where the energy is stored in batteries, instead of burning fossil fuels with traditional helicopter combustion engines.

The operation of an electric helicopter is no different from traditional helicopters with respect to their operation, the only difference is the use of electric power.

The advantages of electric helicopters include reduced operational and maintenance costs, reduced vibration, quieter operation, and a zero-emission flight profile (with respect to the energy used to fly, no smoke emitted from or fuel used to power an electric helicopter).

Electric helicopters have also been considered to be safer than typically powered helicopters because they have fewer mechanical components that could potentially fail.

The working principle of electric helicopters is to use electric power to spin the rotors and develop lift and control. Electric helicopters can be configured and designed as traditional single main rotor helicopters or in multirotor formations.

Electric helicopters have been gaining in popularity. For short range transportation, tourism, and advancement in flight training they offer a cleaner and quieter alternative. Unmanned electric drones, a variation of a multirotor electric helicopter, have been used increasingly in application such as photography, filming, agriculture, and inspection of our aging infrastructure.

As battery technology improves, larger electric helicopters could be used for air ambulance services, cargo delivery, and possibly commercial air transportation, thus significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the aviation industry.

Types of Military Helicopters

Helicopters offer some of the most adaptable and versatile weapons systems in the world. Helicopters have always been integral during times of war and peace.

The helicopter has been utilized since its invention in the 1930s, though military helicopters became crucial to the United States military in World War 2 for performing military operations.

They offer the military a new level of flexible capacity as the rotors provided the military the ability to perform vertical take-off and landing, fly in all four directions and hover.

Various category types of advanced military helicopters exist:

• Military Attack Helicopters
• Military Troop Carrier Helicopter
• Military Observation Helicopters
• Military Utility Helicopters
• Military Maritime Helicopters
• Military Multi-Role Helicopters
• Military Search and Rescue Helicopters

#1. Military Attack Helicopters.

To put it plainly, the purpose of “attack helicopters” also known as helicopter gunships is to shoot the enemy. To shoot the enemy, attack helicopters fly at high rates of speed and are armed with, what could be considered, overwhelming fire power such as machine guns, missiles, and auto-cannons.

Attack helicopters utilize radar systems, and include passive lowpass filters – to improve signal clarity or lessen the amount of noise from reflections from the ground. This combination allows the attack helicopter to find enemy targets and aim projectiles.

Attack helicopters are armed to destroy enemy-armed tanks and vehicles as well as provide aerial fire support for ground troops and other aircraft.

The AH-1W Super Cobra is the Marine Corps main attack helicopter. The AH-1W Super Cobra, built by Bell Helicopter, is an attack helicopter based on the design of the Huey helicopter.

The Super Cobra was the first attack helicopter to qualify for the sidearm anti-radiation missile and the sidewinder air-to-air missile. The Super Cobra is also capable of supporting hellfire missiles.

The Super Cobra has been operational since it was fielded in 1967, and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

As the primary attack helicopter, it is the backbone of the USMC air-ground task force utilized when aerial fire power is needed or covering defensive positions on the ground or escorting another air-support element.

The Marine Corps has flown the Super Cobra since 1986, the last Super Cobra was delivered from the factory in 1998. The AH-1W Super Cobra replaced the AH-1 Cobra, that was replaced by the AH-1Z Viper. In 2020 the Viper will replace the last Super Cobra.

#2. Troop Carrier Helicopter.

The military has always had an interest in helicopters, and many nations have recognized how useful these aircraft could be in supporting the military operations of various branches of their military.

Troop Carrier helicopters represent a point of departure; they allow for the rapid movement of military personnel to a battle zone, or the initiation of an attack, quickly and efficiently.

This type of troop delivery is called an air assault. The military force is delivered to the frontlines much more quickly and without the complications of having to land at an airfield and transport troops to the battlefield by land vehicles.

As a troop carrier, there are various types of helicopters developed directly for this purpose, from large capacity troop transports to small troop delivery helicopters for special strike forces.

Troop carrier helicopters can land on the ground and the troops can walk off, the helicopter can hover very close to the ground and the troops can exit the helicopter, or it can hover at a higher altitude and the specialized-trained troops can repel out of the helicopter to the ground. This is very advantageous in areas of thick bush or foliage, and tall trees.

#3. Military Observation Helicopters.

Helicopters can fly low and slow, fly at low altitudes, fly at high altitudes and fly silently without the use of rotating blades, or operate with stealth.

Helicopters have many capabilities, which led to many helicopters designed space specifically for observation, reconnaissance, and spying roles for military and civilian use.

Heavily loaded with electronic surveillance equipment, infra-red and night-vision cameras, laser targeting, radar systems and communications listening devices, helicopters possess significant stealth capabilities that can avoid diversion by radar or even the physical senses of the enemy.

Helicopters used in this capacity have been invaluable in the information gathering context for both scientific, law-enforcement, and military from all furthering spheres.

#4. Military Utility Helicopters.

Utility helicopters are some of the most versatile aircraft in aviation, and are capable of versatile action in a variety of environments.   Utility helicopters serve all military helicopter roles including; reconnaissance or attack roles as well as transport, and evacuation missions. The greatest and perhaps most notorious utility helicopter is the Black Hawk.

The UH-60 Black Hawk is a medium-lift, twin-engine, four-bladed utility helicopter built by Sikorsky. The Black Hawk is used as the tactical transport helicopter of the U.S. Army and air assault aircraft.

The Black Hawk is a “dragging” tail wheel landing gear system. It is also capable of operations in all-weather situations. In extreme winter conditions, it can have land skis added for functionality in Arctic operations.

The Black Hawk was first fielded in 1978, with American Army soldiers using the helicopter in military operations. The design of the Black Hawk won a U.S. Army competitive bid (UTTAS) to replace the loitering aircrafts used by the Unites States Army.

Currently, there are upwards of 2K UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter models in U.S. military use and were well-known to the American public through the film “Black Hawk Down” released in 2001.

Previously the U.S. Army Regulation 70-28 stipulated the naming of helicopters to be drawn from Native American tribes, but that regulation doesn’t exist anymore, and however, the tradition of naming the helicopters continues, with the Bureau of Indian Affairs involved in the naming of the helicopters (new helicopter designs). The UH-60 Black Hawk was named after a Native American War leader named “Black Hawk”.

The utility helicopter “UH-1Y Venom” has survivability known to exist. The UH-1Y Venom is a new Marine Corps utility helicopter built by Bell Helicopter which will operationally replace the Huey.

Veterans of the industrial helicopter sector and past and current users have referred to the Venom as the “Super Huey,” or was nicknamed “Yankee” for how the phonetic form of the letter “Y.” The Venom began fielding in, 2008 replacing the Marine Corps helicopter fleet of the UH-1N Twin Huey aircraft.

#5. Military Maritime Helicopters.

Maritime helicopters are newer aircraft that have advanced electronics and weapons systems.

Maritime helicopters were developed for a variety of U.S. Navy missions such as search and rescue, and surveillance, but the predominant area of focus is anti-submarine warfare and weapons delivery systems that include launching torpedoes from an airborne stage.

The most recognized U.S. military maritime helicopter is the MH-60R Seahawk. The Seahawk is also referred to as the Romeo because of the letter “R” in its nomenclature system. The MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-mission Naval helicopter airplaneed constructed both as an anti-submarine warfare a weapon the anti-surface weapon system asset.

Presently, the U.S. Navy considers it the most capable maritime helicopter in the fleet.

#6. Military Multi-Role Helicopters. 

A multi-role helicopter is a helicopter that supports a variety of missions across multiple services. A multi-role helicopter is used when it does not matter how inhospitable the environment and difficult the terrain is, and there is a necessity for rescue, medivac, and recovery missions; they offer that second chance when needed most. 

The Apache is a multi-role helicopter widely recognizable by its dual rotors.  The AH-64 Apache is dual-engine multi-mission, heavy division attack helicopter with two four-bladed rotors (main and tail) manufactured by Boeing.  

The Army employs the Apache for precision strike and armed reconnaissance operations during both day and night and in all-weather conditions. The advanced navigation, avionics and onboard sensor suites provide capabilities and systems redundancy improving combat lethality and survivability.

The Apache has many unique attributes, such as a rear cockpit shield for the safety of one or more crew members if the aircraft is hit and  the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System for system targeting whereby the pilot and gunners can mount the automatic M230 Chainig Gun in line with their field of view on their helmet

Also, a nose-mounted sensor suite with night vision systems, target acquisition, and indicative geospatial descriptive data, represents a significant advantage with four hardpoints for a mix of Hydra 70 rocket pods and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, in addition to the 30 mm (1.18 in) M230 Chain Gun. The U.S. Army Apache fleet has achieved 3.9M+ flight hours since its birth in 1984. 

#7. Military Search and Rescue Helicopters. 

Military missions utilizing helicopters for search and rescue are well-established, as helicopters are the perfect aircraft for this type of application based on their ability to fly low with fewer restrictions compared to other aircraft. Helicopters can also fly at lower speeds, which allows the person to search, with more detailed terrain inspection below.

Another characteristic of helicopters that makes them ideal is that once you locate the person, assuming it is safe to transport them, you can in many cases pick them up directly, without requiring another ground vehicle to affect the rescue to arrive to the general location.

The best helicopters to conduct search and rescue operations utilize a helicopters with long distances, the capacity / fitment for multiple crew members, fitment of a winch to extract injured personnel, and fitment of sophisticated electronics for rescues (infra-red and night vision capability) that can enable higher rescue rates during stressed circumstances.

A favorite helicopter for this type of search and rescue application is the Sikorsky S-92, which has all the capabilities or that they can retrofit the equipment. The S-92 also has an excellent range and capacity for both crew and multiple rescue victims. 

The MH-65 literally went through tremendous upgrades, as it not only initiated upgrades of obsolete components but also upgraded to better connectors in a conversion-sustainment initiative to improve the communications package etc.

Noteworthy, since 2007 the Coast Guard’s Dolphin Fleet has gone through engine upgrades adding 40-percent more airborne use of force and power capabilities.

Different Types of Civilian Helicopters

Are you looking at renting a private helicopter for your own purposes or do you need some of the emergency help only a chopper can provide? Either way you can be rest assured that the different types of civilian helicopters on this list can meet your demands: 

• Police Helicopters
• Firefighting Helicopters
• First Aid Helicopters
• Search and Rescue Helicopters
• Coast Guard Helicopters
• Stunt Helicopters
• Transport Helicopters
• Agricultural Helicopters
• Oil Rig Helicopters
• TV News Helicopters
• Party Helicopters
• Multipurpose Helicopters
• Utility Helicopter
• Site-to-Site Transport Helicopters

 #1. Police helicopters.

The Thin Blue Line members can fly up to the Wild Blue Yonder in helicopters that can pursue and track suspects from the air. They are often derived from or built in the same configurations as military scout helicopters like the Bell series.

For example, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has a Bell 412 that has been fielded by other policing agencies including the Royal Air Force. Police agencies, like the LAPD, can have these helicopters follow suspects fleeing via the extensive Los Angeles freeway and provide squad cars with aerial intelligence.

The Bell 412 is 56 ft 1 in., has a maximum takeoff weight of 11,900 pounds, a rotor diameter of 46 ft, and powered by 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D Twin-Pac or else 1 x PT6T-3DF Twin-Pac coupled turboshaft engine and can achieve speeds of up to 160 mph.

#2. Firefighting helicopters.

These helicopters are at the frontline of the firefighting mission all around the world. However, if you see the terms “air tanker” (used solely by US firefighting agencies) or “waterbomber” (used in Canada), it usually only applies to fixed-wing airplanes.

Aircraft that use helicopters to battle fire are simply described as helitack.

Firefighting helicopters in the US are segmented into four classifications based on how much they can carry. Buckets and tanks on helicopters are filled by submerging them into a nearby lake, While some smaller helicopters may be equipped with front-mounted foam cannons.

The Bell 212 is an example of a helicopter made for helitack. It has a length of 57 ft 1.68 in., can fly with 14 passengers, has maximum take-off weight of 11,200 lbs, is powered by 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 or -3B turboshaft engines, and has a maximum speed of 140 mph (cruise speed) with a total range of 273 mi.

#3. First Aid Helicopters.

Larger helicopters sometimes have their own helicopters. Occasionally, larger helicopters are operated by an alternative medical team (i.e. Boston Med Flight). Either way, a first aid helicopter clearly has a significant burden to be fast, yet carry a lot of medical equipment.

Some earlier civilian medical helicopters were military helicopters (again, think of the old MASH-style Bell series helicopters). We will use sophisticated contemporary medical helicopters as examples, such as the Airbus H145 and EC145 series, both of which are used by Boston Med Flight.

The EC145 measures 42 ft 9 in, a 36 ft 1 in main rotor diameter, a 420 mi range, and powered by 2×Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engines, which enable a maximum speed of 167 mph.

#4. Search and Rescue Helicopters.

These helicopters require an especially tough balancing act. They need to be fast and agile enough to rush directly to the scene of an accident while simultaneously being able to carry a complete and full payload of emergency equipment.

Because of this, most helicopters utilized in searches and rescues are modified versions of other helicopter models that were fitted with modifications available on that model like sliding doors or increased power. The Sikorsky S-76S C variant is an example of such a helicopter in use as a search and rescue helicopter.

The Sikorsky S-76S C variant account for those modifications and are, as shown below, available as new and demonstrated an as new example.

• Length: 52 ft 6 in.
• Engines: 2 × Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 turboshaft.
• Main Rotor Diameter: 44 ft
• Maximum Speed: 178 mph
• Range: 473 mi.
• Cruise speed: 162 mph

#5. Coast Guard Helicopters.

Coast Guard helicopters and helicopters used by all agencies that have a similar mission, must have a capability to perform land/sea and air/sea mission profiles.

Coast Guard used the MH-90 Enforcer variant between 1998 – 2000 for and was used by Belgium, Luxembourg, and Hungary.

Currently Coast Guard commands employ the Airbus MH-65, coast guard has utilized them in rescue missions from Hurricane Katrina & Rita in 2005 to Maria & Harvey in 2017. The important component of the design and use of MH-65 is the special design at all elevations from the highest peaks to sea level.

• Airbus MH-65
• Length: 38 ft 1 in.
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 9480 lbs
• Maximum Service Ceiling: 409 mi
• Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Arriel 2C2-CG turboshaft.
• Maximum Speed: 210 mph.

#6. Stunt Helicopters.

The Movie industry uses a lot of helicopters and pilots for all kinds of action film sequences, and the helicopters that are used for this purpose tend to be fast and light-weighted.

The Bell 206 for many years was one of the best examples. Bell Jet Rangers in some form, can be found in the James Bond films On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker and For Your Eyes Only. But also in Terminator 2 as well.

The Bell 206 has leather seating and is powered by 1 x Rolls Royce 250-C20J engine, providing an average speed of approximately 134 mph.

#7. Transport Helicopters.

These are the heavy lifters. Transport helicopters carry a lot of lift and storage capacity, which means they are usually heavy when measured as helicopters, so they are generally heavy-duty. Transport helicopters tend to have a military history due to their heavy-duty nature.

The Chinook CH-47 serves this purpose perfectly. While it is made during the Vietnam era, it continues to lead a life as a heavy transport by carrying massive supplies on disaster relief missions such as Singapore (2004) after a tsunami and then to 2005 Northern Pakistan after a earthquake.

The Chinook can carry 24,000 lbs payload in relief roles, is 98 ft long, 3 person crew, powered by 2 × Lycoming T55-GA-714A turboshaft engines, with a max speed of 200 mph and operational range of 460 mi.

#8. Agricultural Helicopters.

When we think of agricultural aircraft we normally think of crop dusters, but helicopters can fit the mold as well. In recent years, helicopters are becoming more regularly used for hydroseeding and other fast-planting conditions.

An example of a helicopter used in agriculture is the Mi-8ATS, which is a variant of the Soviet-made Mi-8 series. Nonetheless, there is some controversy around agricultural helicopters and other crop dusters as pesticides spray possible drifting into other areas.

The Mi-8ATS can typically carry between seven and nine passengers, has a crew of three, is 60 ft 4 in. length, has 2 × Klimov TV3-117MT turboshaft engines and a top speed of 160 mph.

#9. Oil Rig Helicopters.

Flying back and forth from platforms to rigs and from land to back again is not very easy for oil rig helicopters, and can be complicated, however, they are made for that system of things, riding upon each phase from scouting locations to pipeline patrol duty to cargo lifts.

After the helicopter completes one mission, it could be possible to have a very quick turnaround time for the next mission, so the operators of the helicopter have to be able to work quickly to get their helicopter ready for it next mission.

Once again, Airbus is producing some popular options for oil rig operations, including H135 options today.H135 – 33 ft long, 7 passenger capacity (4 passenger maximum for ambulance), 6,415 lbs. maximum gross weight, 395 mi range, twin turbine engines (2 x Turbomeca Arrius 2B2  or 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B), 178 mph.

#10. TV News Helicopters. 

News helicopters have a unique challenge having to exit and travel in the way of breaking news quickly while remaining steady enough for the camera people to get great shots. It makes sense for the first TV news helicopter to be a helicopter that became notable itself.

One of the first TV news helicopters was a Bell 47 helicopter KTLA Los Angeles leased in 1958. Few helicopters in American history are more iconic us than the Bell 47 which has been featured in the famous M*A*S*H introduction. It has been used as a TV news helicopter since the Korean War. 

The H-13 version of the Bell 47 measures 31 ft 7 in. x 9 ft 8 in, has a maximum gross weight of 2,952 lbs, is powered by 1 x Lycoming TVO-435-A1A six cylinder that flies with a maximum speed of 105 mph and cruise speed of 84 mph.

#11. Party Helicopters.

Turbine and piston helicopters for the rich and famous take to the sky in these models. Typically built for a great deal of room, these helicopters tend to offer more room for passengers in the cabin in order to hold more people for larger airborne bashes.

Interiors are typically more extravagant with leather seating and nicer design. They can have features for additional comfort, like cabin heaters and defoggers. Models like a Robinson R-22, can potentially be easily transported.

The R22 mobile features measure 28 ft 8 in. and are powered by 1 × Lycoming O-320-A2B or -A2C 4-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, with a maximum cruise speed of 117 mph and service range of 241 mi.

#12. Multipurpose Helicopters.

Some helicopter designs can do multiple things. These models can carry a mix of speed and power and are often the most “balanced” civilian helicopter in terms of their total capabilities.

An example of this is the AStar Eurocopter. The Eurocopter AStar helicopter has performed many of the tasks listed above from transport, firefighting, and TV crew work. In fact, it was powered by an AStar, Zoey Tur, that gave the world live footage of the O.J. Simpson police chase with the LAPD in L.A. in 1994.The AS350 version of the A Star Eurocopter carries 6 passengers, is 35 ft 10 in. in length, has a rotor diameter of 35 ft 1 in., and has one (1) Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft engine with a max speed of 178 mph.

#13. Utility Helicopters.

These are the helicopters equivalent to multiple tools on a Swiss Army Knife. They are relatively light aircraft and are capable of many applications, including search and rescue and medical assistance.

Also, they are often one of the more experimental types of copters, as a recent example with the HAL Light Utility Helicopter demonstrated highly viewed prototype demonstrations on September 9, 2020, near the Siachen Glacier. They hope to have Final Operational Clearance Test in 2021.

The HAL Light Utility Helicopter carries 6 passengers, 37 ft 8.25 in in length, with 1 (one) HAL/ Turbomeca Shakti-1U turboshaft engine, has a rotor diameter of 11.6 m, and the max speed is 155 mph.

#14. Site-to-Site Transport Helicopters.

These helicopters are a bit of a combination of private/party helicopters and utility types. Although they tend to be, at least, decent and comfortable, their lack of intention toward opulence makes them distinct from party copters.

Site-to-site helicopters are more suited to reaching areas that may be otherwise impossible (for instance, travelling between island archipelagos).

Nevertheless, these copters are comfortable and used for everything from transport systems, to regional tours. A recent example of a helicopter used for this purpose is the McDonnell Douglas MD 900 (better known as the MD 90).

The MD 90 fits 32 ft 4 in, has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,250 lbs, and has two (2) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206E turboshaft engines with a max speed of 160 mph and range of 337 m.

FAQs.